Playgrounds remain under water for six months
The common playground of two schools in Amtali upazila of Barguna, and an open field in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali remain under water for six months a year, much to the trouble for students and locals.
Assembly and sports activities have remained stopped in two schools in Amtali upazila of Barguna as their playground has been inundated for nearly six months due to lack of a drainage system.
During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found the playground of Chila Hasem Biswas Government Primary School and Chila Hasem Biswas High School was under water as it was situated on lowland.
Around 700 students of the two schools are deprived of sports activities and also assembly as the whole playground remains under water from June to November.
There are around 300 students from pre-primary to Class V in the primary school, while around 400 students study in Class VI to Class X in the high school.
Md Sabbir, a student of Class IX, said they cannot play in the field as it has been under water for six months.
They cannot hold assembly as the whole field went under water during the rainy season, said Sumaiya Sumi of the same class.
Md Wahidul Haq, a guardian of a student, said physical growth of the children is being greatly hampered as they are deprived of sports activities.
Chila Hasem Biswas Primary School Headmaster Md Salim Reza said students cannot play in the field as it is under water.
Chila Hasem Biswas High School Headmaster Md Moazzem Hossain said they submitted several letters to the authorities concerned to raise the level of the ground, but in vain.
The authorities concerned should take steps to make the ground usable considering students' interest as sports activities play a vital role in both physical and mental growth, he added.
Amtali Upazila Education Officer (secondary) Md Akmol Hossain said steps to make the ground usable will be taken after discussions with the higher authorities.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Sarwar Hossain said steps will be taken after he visits the spot.
The only open ground in front of Kuakata Rakhine Mahila Market in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali also remains inundated for six months of the year. The field is used for public meetings, cultural functions and as a helipad.
Umeng Uchu, a trader at the women's market, said the field was open earlier and rain water could drain away easily, but recently many structures have been built around the field, blocking the flow of water.
Kuakata Municipality Mayor Abdul Bareq Mollah said they set up a pipeline to remove the stagnant water from the field last year but it was removed by the Rakhine people, who claimed that the pipe passed over their land.
The municipality has prepared a plan to fill up the ground with earth next year to solve the problem, he added.
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